Portable refrigeration system for refrigerating scintillation detectors and the like



Allg- 9, 1960 w. H. CARTER, JR 2,948,127

PORTABLE: REFRIGERATION SYSTEM FOR REFRIGERATING SCINTILLATION DETEcToRs AND THE LIKE Filed July 30, 1956 25"., Li /z 4 26 P1I' /7 j 4 fr 6AM/14,4

W////am Cam/er, L/r.

INVENTOR.

/6 j; Afro/Mfr William H. Carter, Jr., ElectrohMechanical Development Co., 2337 Bissonnet, Houston, Tex.

Filed July 30, 1956, Ser. No. 600,817 1 Claims. (Cl. 62-384) This invention relates to a portable refrigeration system and method of refrigeratingscintillation detectors and `the like, whereby an expendable refrigerant is carried with the detector totbe refrigerated and .dissipated in controlled degree during the use of the detector in the course lof surface and-sub-surface operations. i The necessity of refrigerating a device such `as a scintillation detector employed in detecting such indications l as those indicating uranium deposits and sub-surface `indications of oil results from the inherent noise characteristics of any vacuum tube, especially a photomultiplier tube, as at times the noise impulse rate exceeds the ,signal impulse rate, it being well known that in such usages the noise ratio increases almost with the square of the temperature. 4 As shown in Fig. l of the drawings such a scintillation vdetector includes a gamma crystal of a substance such as anthracine, potassium iodide, or sodium iodide ,activated -with thalium as an impurity or catalyst. Gamma rays 4entering thecrystal `as emanating from some such source as an oil or uranium deposit have the gamma energy 'thereof converted by the crystal into photons or tiny llashes of light. In order to detect these tiny `iiashes and convert them into electrical pulses the crystalis coupled optically to the end of a photomultiplier `tube containing a number of amplifying stages and by means of coriventional circuits the light flashes thus ampliiied are converted into amplified electrical impulsesreflected in conventional gauge or meter readings. A conventional scintillation detector is' shown on pages 6 and 7` of` the catalogue entitled, Operating and Maintenance Instructions P-Z() a Scintillation Detector of Tracerlab, Inc., 13 0 High Street, Boston l0, Massachusetts, and the electricalidiagram thereof is shown in page l5 thereof, this type oflwelleknown scintillation detector beingfully `described in such catalogue.

The invention herein consequently has as its primary object the provision of a portable, refrigerated scintillation device `whereby such device may be carried without. difficulty' into close quartersand rugged terrain or jungle and 4maintained refrigerated over periods of use so that any photons or ashes induced in the gamma ray crystal of the scintillation device may be translated for detection without interference from noise impulses.`

It is also an object of this invention toprovide a portable scintillation device of thisclass inwhch the refrigerant employed is expendable,' as Dry Ice or carbon dioxide in initially solidstate, whereby the weight and expense of conventional closed system refrigerating sys- -tems requiring motors, compressors, and the like, are ,elimina-ted? t t E It is `another object of this invention to provide a portable refrigerated scintillation device of this class which is adapted `to be .lowered into well bores, and` the like, for `sub-surface exploration, in `which casetlne` device is ,equipped with means actuated from` .the top; oflthezwell pr yautomatically `operable toupay out the feeding ofthe f expendable refrigerant.

Other and further objects will be apparent when the specification is-considered in connection with the drawings in which: t

Fig. 1 is a view, part insection, of a conventional scintillation device, the partsthereof being indicated diagrammatically;

Fig. 2 is an elevation part in section, of a portable refrigerated scintillation `device as embodied by this invention;

Fig. 3 is a plan view, part in sectoin, taken along line 3-3 'of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a -sectional plan view taken along line 4-4 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 5 is a sectional Fig. 2.

Referring in detail to the drawings, a portable, refrigerated scintillation device assembly 1S is shown in Fig. 2 as including a housing 11 of a thinlight metal, as alumi num but o f wall thickness to give `rigidity thereto and firmly confine the parts Within. Within the housing 11 there is provided `a` thickrwalled `cup or insulative layer V12 Within which are inserted the refrigerant cylinder 14 and the scintillation device 17, such being spaced apart by a light metallic block 16, as an aluminum block which `is relieved on the opposite sides thereof to snugly receive therein the semi-peripheral surfaces of the refrigerant cylinder and the scintillation device 17, the block thereby acting as a spacer thereinbetween. For added security a metallic band 1S extends around the refrigerantcylinder 14, the aluminum block i6, and the scintillation device 17, and this band has a flange 19 on each end thereof, the flanges being drawn together by passing the screw 2i? through holes in the flanges and threading it into the nut 21 to tighten the band 18 iirmly about the elements about which it extends.

The refrigerant cylinder 14 has a top closure tting 22 threadable thereinto after the cylinder has been filled with an expendable refrigerant, such as carbon dioxide or Dry Ice in solid state as reduced thereto at excessive pressures such as pressures of say 980 p.s.i. The fitting 22 is threaded internally at 23 to receive therein the Athreaded Vportion of a needle valve stem 24 which has fluid passages 25, 25` therein as shown and which seats on a valve seat provided by the tting 22 to control the outlet port 26 therein which controls communication with the interior of the cylinder 14.

A stuliing box is provided in the upper end of the fitting 22 to receive packing 27, and to threadably receive the gland 28 which tightens the packing 27 around the valve stem 24. The top 2S of the needle valve stem 24 is of hexagonal cross-section to receive a suitable wrench 29 thereon and thereabove a fitting 30 is provided having an axial bore therethrough and having a reduced diameter, externally threaded lower portion and a larger upper part, also ofV hexagonal cross-section, so that the upper part shoulders upon a gasket 31, of a` compressible material to force it tightly against the hexagonal part of the needle valve stem 24.

Above the fitting 30 ya special T litting y32 is provided having a ilow passage 33 therethrough and a needle valve stem 34 provided to extend in the perpendicular leg of the T `to seat upon a valve seat in said itting to cone trol `-iluicl flow through the ow passage. A conventional thread-on type gland 35 is provided to compress packing within the top of the perpendicular leg and prevent leakage -about the needle valve stem 24. Above the T '32 an adapter iitting. 36 is provided: to .complete fluid communication between thelow passage through the T 32 and a tubing 37 which, extends downwardly into a bore 38 in the aluminum block 16,- such bore 38 being slightly `largeur in diameter `than the tubfng 37 and extending through the block 16.

plan view taken along line 5-5 of A. bore 3,9 is. also. provided in the block 16 asbest shown in Figs. 4 and 5 to receive the bulb of a conventional gauge insert type of' thermometer 40, such thermometer having -a conventional graduated dial on the top of the bulb to record the temperature within the block 16...

The insulated electrical conductor 41 from the photomultplier tube ofthe scintillation device extends upwardly therefrom and is carried to. a suitable recording gauge not shown in Fig. 2'. To complete the insulation of the, assembly two slabs 42. and 4.3. ofinsul'ative material are provided and notched out to permit the top of the refrigerant cylinder to extend therethrough, and are, also notched to letthe. thermometer bulb. extend therethrough as well as the tubing 37 and the insulated conductors 4l. Additionally the. insulative` cup, 12` is` notched; at 44 to permit the connected flanges 19 of the band. 18 to be inserted into the. assembly.

The refrigerant, such as Dry lIce is processed for use. by freezing pressurized carbon: dioxide Agas in Successive, steps. until it is solidified at aA temperature. ap,- proximating -..78.2 C; 'I he solidihed material is then crushed and inserted into the refrigerant cylinder 14 from which: the closure` fitting 22,I with parts carried thereby', has. been removed. Thelitting is then replaced, together with. suchparts.

Within the cylinder the Dry Ice subject to heat returns to gaseous. state and; pressure; as high as 300.0 psi.` may be attained. In transition; from solid to gas,k cous. state, the Dry lI ce draws much heat. from. the surroundingaluminurn block 1 6, which in, turnI acts as a conductor, in drawingva heat thereiuto from the; scintillation detector 1,7.l Thusthe n oisel impulse rato of the phetemultiplier tube is, diminished in degree4 soy as not to. interfere. with the signal, impulse. rate of the. photon ashes. and; these are transmitted from thegamma crystal wel. of the photomultiplier tube without interference toregister; electrically on a suitable conventional gauge.

To open the outlet port 26 the wrench 29.v is turned to. rotate the needle` valve stern 24 and move it upwardly inthefthreaded part 23. ofthe -titting Z2. lfit is desired to maintain the` elevation of the horizontal axisI of the adapter. fitting; 36 at its. initial distance above the top'- of thev litting 22, a wrench may be placed on the hexagonal upper part of thetting 30.- and held-` still as the wrench 29.5 is: turned, and in this case the amount the gasket 31 is compressed axially. is the amount' the needlevalve stem: 24. is raised from its seat atv the; top ofv the port 261.

A suitable strap 48 is fastenedtothe housing 11', as by the screwsk 49, and the device may be suspended as. by placing thev strap over the right shoulder ofS the explonerftoextend diagonallyy across theA body. Inthis oase the device will rest upon his left thigh forward of the hip. Then the operator-mayfhold' asuitable gauge inhis right hand, suchgauge being electricallyconneotedl for actuation by the photomultipl'ier`v tube by means ofthe insulated conductor 41;

Witht lhis left handthe explorer 'may turnthe handle of the control needlevalve, stem 34, as he walks with theu gauge inI his'rightA hand and thus gas mayv expand from the cylinder 14 and escape by thepassages 275i and the passagel 251, and through' a passage in` the tting 30- communicating therewith andwith the passage l33 thereabove, and -flowpastthe opened needle valve stem 35to thepassage through the: adapter- 36 and therefrom through the tubing 37 totheu bore 38 to pass therefrom outi the opening 38" in theinsulation; slab 42.` 'Ilhe expansion of'- thegasdraws furtherA heat from' the detector -17gtfl'lrough the aluminum block '16 in to the refrigerant c` ylinderA 14;k andithusthe explorer may ycontinually main'- tain tllofd'eteotor in ref-rigeratedy stateV asjhewalks; in eX- plo'ratiom by-the manipulation of the handle ofthe con'- Vtrolneedle-valvestem` A Y ,.1 'Bhe use offa 'scintillation detector-i=n-surface explora tion. generally follows the. patatern of walking along` a substantially straight line from a surveyed point of origin and noting and/'or recording distances from such origin at which the gauge indicates photon impulse translation in degree to indicate the presence of say uranium or oil below the surface of the earth. The explorer then walks from another surveyed pointV of origin along another substantially straight line intersecting the. rst straight; line at say a. preferred angle, of V90. and alongthis line. not-es. and/or records. the. distance from such origin at which the gauge indicates photon impulse translation in, degree to support similar interpretation. II-Ie then walks along other lines parallel to the rst two lines and spaced apart therefrom with design to intersect them at points where such activity had been noted or might be expected. =In this manner the ground may be rapidly :gridded in a man-ner to permit the plotting of the contour of an active surface area with much greater accuracy due to the clarity of photon occurrence indio-ation than has heretofore been possible without refrigerated scintillation detectors.v

The devicoofj this. inventionmay be employed in subsurface explorationl as. well' in which case the needle valve stem 24 is opened and the needle valve stem 34 is also set, open in4 degree to. maintain refrigeration over the calculated period of subfsurface exploration. In this type ofY exploration the. conductor 41 is. of lengthequal to, thev projected depth of exploration and, is payed out by conventional means. as, from a reel, into the well to. be explored, the endt of the: conductor being extended from the. reel non-rotatably by a conventional arrangement and connected to a gauge also. at. the. surface.. In this type of exploration Athe device may be, lowered by theconductor Wlhen it may be strong. enough. to. support itor optionally it' may be lowered as by av reel payed out separate line. ln either case indicated noticeable. degree of activity is noted and/or recorded against the,` meas.- ured depths,h at` which such indications emanate, and the device is. thenv withdrawn tothe top of the well'.

As1 employment; of the.: invention progresses the4 re,- frigerant; may be'. renewed. asit loses. strength, through ab.F sorptionofjheat anddissipation ofrgas. Thismay bedone by removing; the; top 22l and' lling with. the frozen: rer frigerant',` as; Dry Ice orelse the whole cylinder. L4. and assembled parts may be;- turchanged` for a similar assernf bly: in. which the;4 cylinder is; filled. with, fresh refrigerant, the.v removed assembly'then being; processed; for replenishment of refrigerantv and; exchanged with, its, replacement.

Theinvention is. not limited: to; the structure shown: in the;drawings-or to thomethod steps; of' employment here.- inabove set forth. buts other structures and; suceessionsof method steps are. also` included as1suclr may fall; within the broad spirit of the; invention and;v withiinthex broad scope of interpretation claimed. and; merited. for' the; ap,- pended claims.

What isclaimechis: f

l.V The combination of a refrigerant containen. u deavice* to.v be' cooled? as a scintillationV detecten, athermal conductive block.n of rigidity therebetweenvpositioning said container and said device: in; parallel; spaced apart, rela. tion with axes ini parallel;A spaced apart, vertically? co extensive diametral planes, an' insulator" surrounding said container, block, andi device, and' a= housing surrounding ductivebljoclo of rigidity therebetweenI positioningsaid com tainei` andJ said? device iir parallell spact'ed apart relation With axes in parallel, spaced apart, vertically co-extensive diametral planes, an insulator surrounding said container, block, and device, and a housing surrounding said insulator, said container having a refrigerant therein in solidified state, a conduit from said container and terminating adjacent to said detector, and an expansion valve in said conduit through which said refrigerant may expand when said valve is opened to escape from said conduit as a gas at substantially atmospheric pressure, the expansion of said gas drawing heat from said device into said block to be dissipated to the atmosphere along with the escape of said gas.

3. The combination of a refrigerant container, a device to be cooled as a scintillation detector, a thermal conductive block of rigidity therebetween positioning said container and said device in parallel spaced apart relation with axes in parallel, spaced apart, vertically co-extensive diametral planes, an insulator surrounding said container, block, and device, and a housing surrounding said insulator, said container having a refrigerant therein in solidified state, a conduit from said container and an expansion valve in said conduit, a bore in said block in which said conduit terminates adjacent said detector and providing escape space therearound through which said refrigerant may escape as expanded through said expansion valve, the expansion of said gas drawing heat from said device to be dissipated to the atmosphere along with the escape of said gas.

4. An assembly including a portable device as a scintillation device to be cooled, a refrigerant container, and a thermal conductive block of rigidity supporting said device and said container and extending between said device and said container and positioning said device and container in parallel spaced apart relation with axes in parallel, spaced apart, vertically co-extensive diametral planes, an insulator surrounding said device, block, and container, and a housing surrounding said insulator, said container having a refrigerant therein in solidified state, a conduit from said container, an escape valve in said conduit through which said refrigerant may expand in escaping from said container, a manually operable control valve in said conduit downstream of said escape valve to be manipulated to control theoutward passage of the expanding refrigerant, and means to carry said assembly by an operator and adapted to position said control valve accessible for manual operation as the operator vtransports the assembly, the expansion of said gas drawing heat from said device tobe dissipated to the atmosphere along with the escape of said refrigerant in gaseous form from said conduit.

5. Equipment for detecting sub-surface indications of substances such as oil, uranium, and thel like including a portable scintillation device to be cooled, a refrigerant container, and a thermal conduction block of rigidity supporting said device and said container and extending between said device and said container and positioning said device and said container in parallel, spaced apart relation with axes in parallel, spaced apart, vertically co-extensive diametral planes, an insulator surrounding said device, block, and container, and a housing surrounding said insulator, said container having a refrigerant therein in solidified state, a conduit from said container, manual control means in said conduit accessible to an operator transporting said assembly to control the outward escape of said refrigerant as it expands through said control means into gaseous form to thereby draw heat from said device to be dissipated to the atmosphere, a meter also adapted to be transported by the operator and connected to said device detector to record electrically transmitted indications therefrom and visually discernible to the operator as h e operates said control means while exploring over the surface above said sub-surface.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,148,109 Dana et al Feb. 2l, 1939 2,433,554 Herzog Dec. 30, 1947 2,521,294 Jackson Sept. 5, 1950 2,686,268 Martin et al Aug. 10, 1954 2,711,084 Bergan June 21, 1955 2,714,169 Armistead July 26, 1955 

